Fuel vaporizer for explosive engines



Aug. 13, 1929. J. A. sEMPLE FUEL VAPORIZER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES Filed April l,

.WY t. .m x

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES,

PATE

JAMES ALEXANDER SEMPLE, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. v

FUEL VAPORIZER FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

Application filed April 1,

having connection with the liquid fuel tankk for an explosive engine7 through whichv air is adapted to be drawn as by the suction of.

the intake4 stroke of the engine whereby evaporationv of'liquid fuel is brought about and a true vapor is carried to the engine. In its preferred form the device itself is adapted to receive fuel in liquid form over which the air is drawn for evaporation of the fuel, and is also provided with connection with the top of the fuel tank for withdrawing vfrom said tank the fuel vapor which `has there formed by natural evaporation. These true vapors are conducted to the engine to 11nprove the explosive values of the explosive charge. In the drawings wherein certain embodlments of the invention are disclosed,

Fig.V 1 is a vertical section through one form of the device;

Fig. 2 is a plan thereof as indicated by line 2-2 of Fig.' 1 with parts broken away; Fig. 3 is a cross section through a valve construction taken on line 3--3 of Flg. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a modled form of the device; y Fig. .5 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the assemblage of the device with the en- Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 indicate dierent connections of the device'of Fig. 1 with the fuel tank;

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail of a modied form of air intake for the container.

yIn the form of Figs. 1 and 2, the vapor izer comprises a casing or container 10 in which a head or cover 12 is set and secured as by screws 13. A duct 14 mounted in said head has its upper end connected with the bottom of the fuel tank T while a hollow boss 15 on the other side of the head having a passage 16 therein serves as a continuation of said duct for supplying said container. Boss 15 also has a seat 17 for the point 18 of a needle valve 19 operated by a oat 2O for controlling the passage of liquid through the duct from the tank T. The stem of valve 1922. serial No. 548,871.

19 is irregular in cross section as seen in Fig. 3 for passage of liquid from aperture 16 and for guidance of the valve by theinterior walls of the boss 15. Avpair of separating screens 22 are positioned above the lowermost extremity of the boss 15 and between the oat chamber andthe cover 12, thus deiining a chamber above said screens.

A valve housing 24 for a ball check 25. operated by a spring 26, is threaded into the cover 12 with its lower or discharge end terminating in the oat chamber below the screens. Cover 12 also carries a coupling 28 V for connection of a vaporcon'duit 80 for conducting the vapor to the engine.

' In the form of Fig.` 6, the duct 14 is,

mounted in a fitting in the bottom of tank T anda stand pipe 34 whose lower end is also secured in said fitting extends up and opens into the top ofthe tank fortaking off vapor only. As a substitute for the tank connection of Fig. l, that-of Fig. 7 may be employed where the device is secured to the lower end ofthe usual sediment bulb 35 from which the fuel line leads to the carburetor as indicated at 86, a drain cock 56 being used` at the bottom of casing 10 if desired.

In the form of F ig. 4; the casing .10 is elongated 'andV has an intermediate section 110, sald casing being beaded circumferentlally above said section 110 at 40 and'below at 42, the latter bead assisting'the position? ing and retention of a plurality of separating screens 122. The bead 40". retains a fuel cup 44 in the top of the casingg-l() 'and this cup carries the cover 12. Cover l2 is provided with an external boss or' neck 112 secured to the bottom of the fuelvtank T through which neck liquid fuel-flows into the cup 44. A'stand pipe 45 secured to the bottom of said cup rises up through'the neck 112 to the top of the tank T and is there provided with notches. 46 for the free passage of fuel vapor, while its lower portion. is taperedslightly to form a 'seat for the valve tip or needle 118 of the valve stem 119 operated by the float 20. The'needle 118 controls the flow of liquid fuel through apertures 48 in said tapered portion, andat the same time permits the passage of fuel vapor from the upper portion of'pipe`45 through a small duct or passage 47 in they needle. Preferably the duct. 47 is small enough to hinder free flow of liquid fuel through it in the event that a small amount ofl liquid should enter the pipe as by slopping over the top thereof when the tank is full, but on the other `hand said duct is large yenough so that liquid will be drawn through it by the suction of the engine .more or less readily in order to empty the pipe 45 ofany collected liquid at least as rapidly as it is evaporated in the container 10 and yet avoid flooding the device. However, since the ypipe 45 will ordinarily be quite small and merely notched or similarly formed at its upper end, being designed for 'vapor passage only,-very.l1ttle liquid will fenter it even when fthe tank is full,'an`d no liquid `will enter after the level drops appreciably. Thus yunder nearly all conditions vapor will `pass freely through the :valve whenfthe device is under suction.

For controlling the movement of liquid fuelandvapor, a partitionf49 depends from the -bottomofcup -44 ito the screens 122and on .one side a pair of small screens 50 are horizontally disposed. Thus,`in addition tothe 'liquid fuel chamber withiircup 44, the container'is `divided into a receiving chamber 51, a loatuch'amber52 below screens 122, a vaporchamber 53 between screens 122 and 50, iand =a .discharging chamber 54 vfromr Whichthe -vaporis taken through conduit 30 connectedstofa fitting 55. Air which. may be required .in addition to that drawn through pipe 45 with'the vapor from tank T, 1s admitted into .receiving .chamber 51 through a rvalve .housing :.24 having a ball check 25 and'threaded .into cover V12 as in 'the other form, iits ilower end being passed through and-sealed in the bottom of cup 44.

Either `form of the device mayV be con nected iup with the engine in any desired manner, 4but that indicated in nFig. 51s pre ferred. :Here the vapor conduit 30 leads to a humidifying-deviee D `which receives mois" turerthrougha lineOpreferably in the form offairvandfsteam taken from the top of the radiator iR. .Humiditled air and fuel vapor is drawn from the ytop of humidifier D through tube162 into .theintake manifold G4 ofthe engine or 'motor M by the suction of the engine.

En operation, the form yof Fig. 4 admits liquid fuel :fromfcup 44 into chamber 51 past valve .118, vapor being drawn through duct 4.7 inzthe valveand'air being drawn in past check -valve `25. Mixing and vaporization takes place initially in chamber `51, being augmented during passage through the three screens 122 `Whichlbreaks up the liquid more orfless. Surplus liquid collects in chamber 52;.and-'operates `float 20, the air and vapor being drawn :across the liquid and up throughmhescreens.122, which here serve as separating screens, into chamber 53. The gasmixture thenpasses through the screens whichfserveithe double function of intercepting any particles `of iliquid which `may possibly -have passed through screens 122,

and of preventing flame from being carried back into the various chambers in case of backfire of the engine. The vapor is then drawn from chamber 54. In this form a drain cock 5G may be placed at the bottom of the casing if desired.

Inthe other form, liquid fuel or vapor, as the case may be, is drawn through tube 14 past valve 18 .into` the float chamber, air being drawn when required past the ball checkl valve 25 =into the same-chamber. The vapor is then drawn by the engine suction up through 4screens `22 intowthe Ychamber thereabove and thence out through conduit 30; the screens 22 serve to separate any liq uid particles. Even where tube 14 is connected up to take vapor .from'the top of the tank as in F ig. G, it is preferable -to use float 20 and its valve 18 to insure vagainst floodingiby splashing inthe tank; .incidentally any splashed liquid `will increase ,the fuel vapor drawn from the device.

lVith either `form various' means vmay be employed for .connecting Athe Vfuel ,line 36 leading tothe carburetor. This maybe as in Fig. 7 as above describedfor the line may be connected with the tankin the usual .-manner independently -of `the present device, or it may be connected with the present device. Where low Vgrade fuel is used it may .be necessary to so connect said liquid fuel :line as to guard against accumulation in the .float chamber ofnon-volatile or dii'iicultly .volatile fuel. This is accomplished by connecting the line directly with the vfloat chamber so that a fresh supply of liquid fuel is being drawn constantly through said .chambeig'as shown Y in Fig. 4 at 36. As a resultthe air passing through the. device zwill be brought into contact with a -larger quantityof liquid than otherwise and .more vapor will be zformed. However, a plug 136 interchangeable Ywith tliefconnection on line 36 may be .provided on cup 44 so that liquid fuel may `be'taken directly from said cup if desired.

Thus it `willbeseen that I 'have `provided means for supplying to an engine fuelfin true vapor. form, as :distinguished .froml a mist or :line spray, whereby fthe explosions of the mixture supplied by the carburetor inthe usual .mannerare materially bettered as regards fuel eflicieney. .At-thesame time l may use the vapor which naturallyforms in the fuel tank abovethe level thereof. In any case where liquid fuel is-tobeta'kenlinto the container .10, the air admitted .throughV the check valve24fmay belled'by a small tube 124 to a point below the liquid level, fas seen in Fig. 8, to .assist the formationof fuel vapor.

.I claim: y l

1.1111 combination, a .liquid fuel tank,a container, a liquid kconnection between the tank and :the container, said container having .a `liquid receiving chamber, nely perdirecting air through said perforated means and into, said chamber, and an outlet to 10 which vapor-laden air is drawn.

2. A structure according to Claim l Wherein a f1oatoperated valve is employed as the means for Controlling admissions of liquid.

In testimony whereof I aflx my signature. 15

JAMES ALEXANDER SEMPLE. 

